The Rapidan Chapter

Cancelled***July 10, 2010 Fish With a Friend

I just got off the phone with Rob Paul, who had just spoken with Mike McCaffery, reporting on the Rapidan.  The water levels in the Rapidan are lower than he has ever seen them and water temperatures were approaching 70 degrees.  According to Rob, Mike also reported dead fish floating in some of the pools, snakes in the pools going after the trapped fish, and the fish in the pools rightfully stressed.

This weather has been the most severe I’ve seen this early in my 10 years here, and while things are going to cool off some, it has imposed a serious toll on the fish.  As a result, we are going to cancel the Fish with a Friend outing for July 10.  Sorry for the notice.

Greg Safford and I fished  Shaver’s Fork south of Elkins about 6 weeks ago.  The water temperature was 53 degrees.  We went back 3 weeks ago and fished Shaver’s Fork again and the canyon section of Blackwater Falls.  The water temperature on both rivers was 77 degrees.  Tailwaters may be the only solid trout fishing in the area for quite some time.

Have a great weekend and stay out of the heat if you can.  Cross your fingers for much cooler temperatures and long durations of steady rain.  We need both desperately.